After conducting a regional use case assessment for telehealth late 2018, CCN developed a telehealth program for our partner organizations to address Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) access to both medical and behavioral health teleconsultations and the integration of behavioral health services into primary care. The premise of introducing these services to the community was that they would contribute to decreasing the number of preventable Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in the region. CCN currently has 16 organizations enrolled in the program.
The CCN Telehealth program has since expanded to support four (4) distinct use cases: (1) Use of Telehealth in the Long-Term Care (LTC)/SNF environment to provide Medical and Behavioral Health services; (2) Use of Telehealth in the Primary Care environment to provide Behavioral Health services; (3) Use of Telehealth to support network facilitation; and (4) Use of Telehealth to support Workforce programs in the areas of high-need professions. These use cases utilize Teleconsult, telemonitoring, and e-visit telehealth modalities.
Through the Capital Restructuring Financing Program with New York State (CRFP), Care Compass Network provided 36 Vici Telehealth Carts, including peripherals, to those organizations enrolled in the program, totaling $1,185,877.50.
Rapidly Pivoting to Support Members During the COVID-Pandemic
In response to the national crisis that surrounded the COVID-19 Pandemic, CCN took the lessons learned through the Telehealth Program to quickly pivot and address the critical needs of many of our partner organizations. CCN provided funding and guidance to 34 non-hospital organizations with a need for a Telehealth Video Conferencing solution for face-to-face clinical, behavioral health, or Social Determinant of Health interactions while maintaining social distancing guidelines.
At the end of the program, we requested that the participating partners submit a lessons learned document which provided feedback on what worked, what needed improvement, and the overall reduction in hospital transports. Here is some of the feedback that Care Compass Network received:
“The addition of the CCN program has been extremely effective at Crown Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in more ways than one since its implementation at the facility level. The program has allowed us to use our LPNs at the facility level more efficiently. Having the telehealth doctors on standby when needing consultations have given our RN supervisors on the off shifts peace of mind in navigating more complex clinic issues as the doctors on call are able to lay eyes on the patient in real time. It has provided our RN supervisors with convenience to get clinic issues addressed immediately in turn, assisting in lowering our rehospitalization rates at the facility level. Our only barrier has been issues with the stethoscope being in working order 100% of the time. Overall, the program has benefitted Crown Park tremendously and has provided our residents with the highest quality level of care.” – Crown Park Rehabilitation Staff
“Over the last year, ECM made 654 telehealth calls, which resulted in 69 avoided transfers. The estimate savings from these avoided transfers was $276,000. In addition to the cost savings, staff found that the responsiveness of the on-call providers is excellent, and because they speak to the same small group of providers, they feel confident in their assessments. Our attending providers also are pleased with the care provided by the telehealth providers. In summary, ECM feels that the telehealth program has been a success both financially and clinically. Thanks to the team at CCN for funding and supporting this project in the skilled nursing facilities.” – Elizabeth Church Manor Staff
“Seneca View had identified a growing need within the resident population for increased psychiatric and psychologic services for its resident population. However, the facility had been having difficulty securing the necessary services for evaluation and treatment as these services are limited in this rural location. The tele-psych grant produced the resources need in order to treat the needs of our resident population. It introduced previously unavailable equipment and professional services in a tele-medicine manner that had been available to us beforehand. We have experienced many positive benefits with the convenience of this program. Transportation in this rural location is difficult and our facility transportation resources are minimal. The telehealth option provided greater access to health services and a significant convenience for residents who no longer were required to make off-site trips. This benefit turned out to be especially helpful during periods of inclement weather, and during the pandemic. The telehealth program resulted in greater resident participation rates, and greater treatment for the general population than had been available previously. Residents also avoided long office waiting room delays and inconveniences including bathroom stops and sitting for uncomfortable lengths of time. Telehealth visits are conducted in the privacy of the resident’s room, thereby eliminating off-site trips. This resulted in cost savings for the facility via a reduction of transportation costs, including outside purchased services, and staff escort time. Overall, this experience was very positive for the residents and the facility in many ways. The value of this mode of health service also became highly evident during the pandemic. When all in-person meetings became highly restricted our residents were still able to obtain the care they needed using the telehealth equipment and services provided under this grant.” – Seneca View Staff
“The Care Compass project utilizing the Arcadian psychiatric services and the Curavi Telehealth services was extremely beneficial for our company. If there was a medical situation that would occur that would require that the physician actually lay eyes on the patient, the Telehealth machines would allow for the physician to make a more accurate assessment of the resident. The Arcadian Tele psych services were also extremely beneficial as it gave the resident an outlet to have someone to talk to and connect with on a visual level.” – Telehealth Staff
